It's not all about selling books

Subject: It's not all about selling books Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:09 pm

I know that many and maybe most writers of novels want to make money out of their work. I wrote Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine to make a difference. Today I saw my video on "Bullying - Worldnews Network" and it felt as good as a royalty check:

http://upge.wn.com/?template=cheetah-photo-search/index.txt&query=bullying&language_id=-1

If you scroll to the video section, you will see my video for Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:48 pm

What about writing because it's a fun creative exercise? Any money is just an added bonus. That's the way I try to look at things. Smile

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:29 pm

It's fun and it keeps me from being bored and diving into the refrigerator every five minutes. It's not all about selling books 143616

Okay...so, there are so many reasons. I have to admit, I do get a tremendous kick out of it when a reader tells me how much they enjoyed it. Why shouldn't a reader glean as much joy from my writing as I do? Isn't that the point?

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Sun Jun 01, 2008 8:39 pm

As far as I'm concerned it'a all about people reading what I write.

Without that, there's not point in it.

And the only way I can afford to distribute the books is to sell them.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:08 am

If I could afford to give my books away I would. I just want people to read my work.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:47 am

I want people to read my work, otherwise it's not a good use of my time, and I need to make a living. So for me it does have a lot to do with selling books, but you're right Shelagh, sometimes there are moments that really do have a big impact.
Rhett I tried knitting to keep out of the fridge. It's hard to eat and knit and the same time, although much easier for me to write than knit, so I will stick to writing!

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:32 am

They say there has to be an oddball in every group. I'm not too sure about that, but maybe they're right because I seem to be the oddball here. I first wrote for money all the way back in 1946 and have never kicked the habit. I agree it's nice to have readers because they are the ones who provide the money.

It's not all about selling books Stodg_10

It's not all about selling books Stodg_10

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:36 am

I know, adding my Camp Polk photo to the above post may not have been the brightest idea, but did the server have to add a "Report this as being offensive" message when I was about to call it up?
It's not all about selling books 971369

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:27 am

CAMP Polk! Whoa!

Yeah, I'm like you Dick. Writing is a living. It's what I do. I don't pay much attention to all the art vs commerce or love vs mammon aspects. They come hand in hand.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:50 am

Shelagh wrote:: I know that many and maybe most writers of novels want to make money out of their work. I wrote Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine to make a difference. Today I saw my video on "Bullying - Worldnews Network" and it felt as good as a royalty check:

Okay, as usual I find myself playing devil's advocate here.

First, if people don't buy your book, how can it possibly "make a difference"?

Second, why is writing considered to be an occupation where it's okay to lose money or only break even?

I don't know too many teachers or insurance agents or bankers who pursue their careers because they are simply fun or because once in a while they'll help somebody. What makes writing different?

Malcolm

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:20 am

Excellent point.
I hate to see writers and artists buy into the wretched idea that they don't really need to be paid.

It's galled me for years that people know you have to pay your grocer and lawyer and plumber and mechanic, but not necessarily artists and writers.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:01 am

I need to jump in again here too. I think that artists are often expected to "suffer for their art" and as a result they expect to eke and living and so that is as much as they get. An ekeing.
If people wish to write part time because they have other things to fill their lives with, that's fine. The thought of being glued to a chair for hours at a time or wearing out another keyboard is not every writer's cup of tea, but I expect to be paid for what I do. And paid well frankly. But suffer for your art? Forget it.
I take cash, cheque, mastercard and visa.
tongue

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:44 am

Malcolm wrote:

Shelagh wrote:: I know that many and maybe most writers of novels want to make money out of their work. I wrote Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine to make a difference. Today I saw my video on "Bullying - Worldnews Network" and it felt as good as a royalty check:

Okay, as usual I find myself playing devil's advocate here.

First, if people don't buy your book, how can it possibly "make a difference"?

Second, why is writing considered to be an occupation where it's okay to lose money or only break even?

I don't know too many teachers or insurance agents or bankers who pursue their careers because they are simply fun or because once in a while they'll help somebody. What makes writing different?

Malcolm

Did you follow the link to see what pleased me? It was the video about my book. No book: no video.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:13 pm

Pam wrote:: I need to jump in again here too. I think that artists are
often expected to "suffer for their art" and as a result they expect to
eke and living and so that is as much as they get. An ekeing.
If
people wish to write part time because they have other things to fill
their lives with, that's fine. The thought of being glued to a chair
for hours at a time or wearing out another keyboard is not every
writer's cup of tea, but I expect to be paid for what I do. And paid
well frankly. But suffer for your art? Forget it.
I take cash, cheque, mastercard and visa.

I certainly agree with that, Pam, as well as with the others who expect
to be paid for their work. If writing is a hobby to some, that's
fine--for them.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:17 pm

Did anyone click on the link?

http://upge.wn.com/?template=cheetah-photo-search/index.txt&query=bullying&language_id=-1

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:20 pm

I did and it sent me to a page with different articles about bullying,
none that I could see from you. I clicked on the one video, but it
stopped after about a half second.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:21 pm

Are you catface? That's the only video I can see.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:24 pm

Hi Brenda,

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:28 pm

???

The page ends on an article about pretty girls and bullying.
I'll try it again, tho. I'm using a new version of Foxfire and it's been freezing and jamming. I'll go to my old version.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:36 pm

Ok, I give up--for now. The old browser allowed me to see the rest of the page but wouldn't play the video.

At any rate, it has to be a thrill to see it listed. Congratulations!

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:44 pm

I clicked on the link, found your video, but that's as far as I could go. When I clicked on it, the page re-displayed with your video headline overlayed on some of the type near the top of the page.

I would be pleased to have my video there, too! And that's certainly worth a lot!

Am I the only one who can get the video to display?

Malcolm

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:47 pm

Maybe so, Malcolm. Strange, isn't it, in this age of advanced technology.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:51 pm

Shelagh, I followed the link, saw your name and pic/video at the bottom of the page, and clicked on it. It took me to another page that had the name of your book on it and that was it. I never got to see your video.

It appears your thread here got hijacked. Sorry about that. The way you handled it shows what a nice person you are. Smile

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:53 pm

Sue, I wouldn't consider it hijacked because she asked if anyone had clicked to her page.

Subject: Re: It's not all about selling books Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:58 pm

I didn't click on the link to the video because I've seen it so many times before! I've since clicked on a few of the links and they don't work either. The first one of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie works, so maybe the others will follow suit. I'll keep an eye on it to see what happens.

The exciting thing for me was that I found the page by Googling "Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine". Imagine my surprise when I found my video featured on a World News page! Very Happy

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